Walter Martella joined the Powell River Boys Choir when he was seven years old. It is now one of the choirs that he conducts at Powell River Academy of Music. Born and raised here, Martella’s interest in music started with piano lessons at home, then he joined the boys choir, learned to play the accordion and, finally, the trumpet. Martella is the music advisor for International Choral Kathaumixw and is preparing to conduct three choirs at the festival, which begins on Tuesday, July 5.
When did you start conducting?
I had never done conducting until I came back from college and university. Don James [founder of Kathaumixw] taught me and introduced me to larger choral works. He has been a mentor to me for about 24 years. I can still go to him now and ask, “How would you do this music as a conductor?”
What is the hardest thing about being a conductor?
You have to use your hands. You can’t use your voice. In rehearsal I can use my gestures, as well as my voice. When you’re doing a concert, there is no verbal communication with the choir. It’s all down to the hands. That’s really the special part of it, communicating with your hands and keeping everyone together. It’s an art.
What is the highlight of your Kathaumixw experience?
It was a few years ago, when I played the accordion with orchestra and choir for the Misa Tango with Fred Sjöberg conducting. That was probably the highlight of my life, even though I conduct, play the piano and the trumpet, occasionally.
What are you most looking forward to at Kathaumixw this year?
This year I’m going to conduct “Gloria,” one of British composer John Rutter’s larger and most established choral works. It will be sung by the 60-voice Powell River Academy Chamber Choir with organ, brass and percussion. It’s musically very descriptive from the extremes of texture, dynamics and rhythm. It’s epic.
For more information, go to waltermartellamusic.com.
